Award Winning Sports Massage in Shropshire
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Injuries
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Pain
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Lower Back Pain
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Back Pain
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Sprains
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Strains
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Shoulder Pain
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Rotator Cuff Injuries
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Knee Pain
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Sciatica
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Tendonitis
I am a Level 5 and CNHC Registered Sports Massage Therapist
Sport massage is not just for athletes. It is suitable for anyone suffering pain or discomfort from injuries, repetitive strain, poor posture or just the effects of everyday life or ageing. Sports Massage will not heal your injuries. You heal your own injuries. Tens of thousands of years of evolution has given your body everything it needs to deal with and recover from injury. However, modern life does not always provide the right conditions for that healing to take place. We often don’t allow time for the healing process to conclude, we push on with everyday life, forcing our bodies to adapt rather than repair. This leads to long term compensation patterns, postural issues and further injury. Moreover, continual stress, poor nutrition and a whole range of other factors can further impede the natural healing process. This can result in long term aches and pains. Sports Massage Therapy alone cannot remedy all of these components. However, it can help to correct the compensations, address the postural issues and facilitate the natural healing process in order that the body can once again progress towards functioning as it should be. My aim as a sports massage therapist is to help you with your recovery and facilitate repair in order that you may resume activities with comfort.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is a soft tissue treatment, primarily aimed at athletes to ease muscular tension and minor injuries received as a result of sport. However, it is not exclusive to athletes, as many people prefer the often deeper, sometimes more intense, massage delivered by sports massage therapists. Sports massage is predominantly used as part of an athletes training program, complementing progressive training and minimising potential incidences of injury by reducing muscle tension. It can be used in a variety of situations; pre-event which is typically used to prepare the athlete physically and help with mental preparation, inter or intra-event which helps prepare the muscle for subsequent activity, post-event which can aid relaxation following activity and can be used to assess muscle condition for potential injury. Sports massage therapists work alongside medical and health care teams as well as within sporting environments. A typical session would begin with a discussion between the practitioner and the client to seek the client’s relevant personal details, medical history and reason for the visit. Using this information the practitioner may then further observe posture, client’s movement, evaluate the tissue by touch and carry out specific functional tests to establish the possible cause of discomfort or injury. Using this information, and in conjunction with the client an appropriate treatment plan will be developed. All assessments and treatment will be explained to the client and informed consent will be sought. The client may be asked to undress or perhaps change into sports wear for the assessment and treatment. The treatment will be tailored to address the needs of the client and may include the application of a variety of soft tissue techniques and functional movement skills. These may necessitate movement by the client. Following treatment, the practitioner will offer homecare advice to facilitate or continue the treatment effects and advise in the case of adverse reactions. The therapist may also suggest referral to another practitioner if treatment is not within their remit.
Supporting Evidence:
Used alongside exercise, NICE guidance (3,4) and recent systematic reviews support the use of manual therapy (including soft-tissue massage) for low back pain and for hip or knee (5) osteoarthritis, with evidence of short-term improvements in pain and/or function.
Systematic reviews report that massage can reduce post-exercise muscle soreness (DOMS) and improve perceived recovery 24–72 hours after hard training (short-term effects). (1,2)
Choosing a practitioner
It is important to choose a qualified practitioner who has undertaken all the necessary training to understand the theory and practice of sports massage. You can check whether a sports massage therapist is registered with the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) by searching the register at www.cnhc.org.uk. By choosing sports massage therapists registered with the CNHC you can be confident that they are properly trained, qualified and insured.
What Is The CNHC?
The CNHC (The Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council) is a ‘not for profit’ organisation which was set up in 2008 with government support following a select committee review in 2000 which considered public protection from unregulated practitioners. In 2013 it was approved as the holder of an Accredited Voluntary Register by The Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA).
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In many countries , including America and Germany, Massage Therapists require a license in order to practice. This license can only be obtained once they have undergone and passed the necessary standard of training. Unfortunately, at the present time, no such regulation is required in The UK and anyone can call themselves a massage therapist and practice without training or insurance. This is potentially dangerous as not everyone is suitable for massage and untrained therapists can potentially be putting their clients at risk of harm. The closest thing that we currently have in the UK to statutory regulation is the CNHC Register.
“The Department of Health recommends that people looking for complimentary health practitioners use those who are registered with the Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)” Taken from the CNHC Website
As a CNHC Registrant, you can be assured that I am fully trained to the highest standard. I am insured and regulated and have undertaken to abide by their code of conduct and ethics. I am also required to keep my training and knowledge up to date through at least 15 hours of continued professional development (CPD) per year. For further information on the work of the CNHC please visit www.cnhc.org.uk
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